Monday, April 15, 2024

What Can Mold Do To Your Brain

You Are Not Crazy Mold Can Affect Your Brain

12 Habits That Damage Your Brain

Let me start by saying that if you are struggling with depression and feelings of hopelessness as symptoms of your mold illness, you are not alone. You are not crazy. Depression, anger, fear, feeling trapped, desperate, and helpless are all very real and very well-documented symptoms of mold-related illness.

One of the first and most difficult symptoms of being exposed to mold for me was the sudden onset of anxiety and depression. My anxiety levels soared and my ability to deal with lifes ups and downs plummeted. I went from being a smooth-sailing, up-for-anything, laid-back woman, to an unstable, nervous, neurotic, worried wreck. I would literally worry myself into physical exhaustion, almost feeling haunted by my fears that something was going on in my body that I just didnt understand and no one could figure out or help me with. It was humiliating to not be able to physically prevail in athletics anymore or depend on my body and depressing to always be or feel sick. I also felt out-of-control and like I was failing as a Mom, because my son was struggling with sensory processing issues and frequent ear infections, and caring for my daughter, a sweet baby girl at the time, left me totally depleted and completely exhausted. I was not in a good place physically or psychologically. And, as many of us do when things seem to be all in our heads, we blame ourselves, which makes the problem worse.

Now for my recommendations:

Do I Need To Get Medical Treatment

In many cases, exposure to toxic mold doesnt require medical treatment. If you experience cold-like symptoms after exposure to potentially toxic mold, these symptoms will likely fade on their own with no long-term effects once you remove yourself from the environment with the mold.

Generally speaking, your overall risk of long-term health effects related to mold exposure is fairly low. That said, experts still have more to learn about the possible health effects of mold exposure.

For this reason, its still important to avoid long-term exposure to potentially toxic mold and promptly address signs of mold in spaces you spend time in.

Reaching out to a healthcare professional may be a good option if you:

  • have a compromised immune system due to another health condition
  • have significant trouble breathing
  • live with cystic fibrosis

As for a mold detox? Contrary to some beliefs, theres typically no need to go on a cleanse or detox in order to heal your body after exposure to mold.

Heres why: When functioning optimally, your body constantly detoxes itself and its very efficient at this task.

Do Air Purifiers Help With Mold

Do air purifiers help with mold? Air purifiers help capture mold spores from the air, preventing them from reproducing and spreading throughout your home. While air purifiers wont help treat active mold thats already present on surfaces, they are a great way to control the spread of airborne mold particles.

Also Check: Where To Check For Mold In House

What Effects Can Mold Have On Your Brain

  • Post on April 27th, 2021
  • at Mold Inspections

Most of us know what mold and mildew are while a handful of us have heard of black mold. However, most individuals dont know that mold can have certain effects on the brain. Mold is a toxin that releases toxic spores and gas into the air we breathe. When the toxins enter our bodies by breathing them in or through our skin, the gases can disturb different organs, including your brain. Many of us confuse mold infections with allergies. However, a mold infection can affect our brain and cognitive function.

Is it a matter of Stress or is it Mold Toxicity?

A number of dysfunctions can occur whenever mold toxicity is present including feelings of craziness or psychological distress. Since the 1950s when drywall began taking the place of plaster, reports of mold infections have been on the rise. Some of the more frightening symptoms of mold infections or toxicity include:

  • breathing problems
  • psychological distress

Is it a Brain Injury, Lyme disease, or Mold Infection?

As a result, these conditions are often misdiagnosed as something different. When mold infections arent diagnosed improperly as a brain injury or Lyme disease, it may be diagnosed as some other brain condition due to the symptoms present. The sudden brain fog or loss of memory is often written off due to getting older, while symptoms of anxiety and depression often signal that a person is suffering from some form of mental or psychological illness.

Mold And Depression Research

Does Mold Affect Your Brain When You Have Been Exposed

In 2007, researchers at Brown University released a study showing a link between mold and depression.

The study, led by epidemiologist Edmond Shenassa, analyzed data from 5,882 adults in 2,982 households.

The data was collected by the World Health Organization in 2002 and 2003. Interviewers visited 1000s of homes in eight European cities and asked residents a series of questions to assess symptoms of depression, including symptoms of low appetite, self-esteem, and sleep disturbances. They also tried to visually verify the presence of mold by looking at spots on the wall and ceilings.

What they found was that symptoms of depression were up to 40% higher for residents living in visibly moldy households than for residents that did not have mold in their homes.

Based on this survey, they concluded that there is a definite connection between damp, moldy homes and depression.

The studies author, further concluded that:

Physical health, and perceptions of control, are linked with an elevated risk for depression, and that makes sense. If you are sick from mold, and feel you cant get rid of it, it may affect your mental health. Healthy homes promote healthy lives.

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How Do Doctors Treat Mold Toxicity

The first step to treatment is determining if you have mold toxicity. One of the tests used to do this is the visual contrast sensitivity test and blood lab tests.

Once these tests confirms that you have biotoxin illness, then the drug that many mold survivors have used to begin the detox process is cholestyramine , which has been shown to reduce symptoms by up to 75%, provided you remove yourself from the toxic environment.

In addition, the detox process can be enhanced with a low carb and low sugar diet and the addition of supplements such as fish oil, magnesium, turmeric, probiotics, and vitamin D.

Disclaimer: The treatment guidelines listed above should only be adopted after first consulting with a physician familiar with biotoxin illness.

Can Mold Cause Neurological Symptoms

by Kiran | Oct 19, 2021 | Mold Damage, mold repair, Reconstruction |

Mold is one of the common and greatest challenges that we face today. The ability of mold to thrive with the minimum resources such as moisture and ubiquitous cellulose makes it a major headache.

With the ability to impact a real estates structural integrity in the long run, mold exposure is also detrimental to humans and animal health.

What makes mold dangerous is that most individuals exposed to it hardly identify the culprit until its too late, i.e., when they start observing severe symptoms.

Recent studies on human mold exposure and pertinent health impacts have unveiled interesting statistics linking mold exposure and neurological symptoms.

While we still do not have any conclusive evidence from the latest studies, there is enough evidence that suggests that mold exposure may cause cognitive impairment in vulnerable people.

Several theories have been put forth which may help explain and link mold exposure or neurological symptoms in humans.

Understanding the mold toxicity and allergies

Mold toxicity and mold allergies are often misinterpreted. Allergies from mold are usually mild and trigger sneezing, skin inflammation, and itchy eyes.

Neurological impacts of mold exposure by age

Treatment

Whether or not mold can affect your brain largely depends on how susceptible you are to mold exposure.

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What Mold Exposure Can Do To Your Brain

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It has been well established that exposure to mold increases the risk of respiratory disorders. While there have been no studies that link dementia and mold exposure, there is evidence that suggests there is a possibility that mold exposure contribute to cognitive impairment in a small group of people. Because not every person who is exposed to mold will experience cognitive symptoms, it is difficult to establish a direct link between our brain and mold exposure.

What Does Mould Do To Your Brain

DETOX YOUR BRAIN of metals, chemicals, mold, etc.

Inflammation: Mold spores act as irritants, which can trigger the body to mount an immune response. This can lead to inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation in the brain can impair cognitive function, and in the case of chronic inflammation, this can lead to long-lasting cognitive impairment.

What is fuzzy brain?

What is brain fog syndrome? Brain fog is characterized by confusion, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus and mental clarity. This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer.

What causes mould?

Damp and mould are caused by excess moisture. Moisture in buildings can be caused by leaking pipes, rising damp in basements or ground floors, or rain seeping in because of damage to the roof or around window frames.

Can you get mold on your head?

The bottom line. Although many people may be searching online for how to remove mold from their hair, theres no scientific evidence that mold grows on human hair. However, some other types of fungi, such as piedra or yeasts, can grow on your scalp or hair.

How long can mold stay in your body?

Those who process toxins well can see their symptoms disappear as quickly as a few days. Others who eliminate toxins slowly can experience symptoms for much longer. They could be ill for months or even years after the source of mold is eliminated.

Can mould cause seizures?

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How Do You Tell If There’s Mold In Your Walls

My years of experience will bring you “Peace in Mind” about your home’s living environment.

Orlando mold inspection & Testing is how we can get the material evidence needed to support our claims about the health of your business or home. There are different levels of mold found in indoor environments. By comparing samples taken from the inside with outside samples, air sampling can be done. This allows you to determine what is normal. Any visible growth will be referred to us for collection of a surface specimen. It will be possible to determine the source of an issue by comparing the type and size of the mold in the air and the physical samples. Swab samples are useful for another reason. There are some types of harmful molds, like black toxic mold. However, they may not always be airborne.

How Do You Get Mold In Your Brain

When the toxins enter your body, via skin or air, the toxic gases cause a disturbance in many organs, including your brain. Often confused as just allergies, or just being out of it, mold infections can affect cognitive function, especially in the frontal cortical area.

Is mold brain damage reversible?

Many patients with memory loss and dementia are actually simply toxic from mold, which is a reversible condition. The tragedy is missing the diagnosis and continuing to proceed with treating the patient for something they do not have and missing an effective treatment.

What are signs of mold sickness?

  • skin irritation.
  • sporotrichosis, a skin infection that starts out as a small pink, red, or purple bump on the skin.
  • itchy, red eyes.
  • asthmatic symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest.

Does mold cause OCD?

A finding of PANS or PANDAS ought to be considered at whatever point side effects of OCD, tics, and eating limitations begin abruptly and are joined by other emotional changes. Mold illness is related with hypersensitive responses that copy regular sensitivities.

Does mold cause depression?

About 40% of the residents lived in visibly damp, moldy households, and overall their risk for depression averaged 3444% higher than that for residents of mold-free dwellings, with moderate exposure associated with the highest increase in risk.

Can mold cause mental issues?

Can an MRI detect mold?

Can black mold grow in the brain?

Also Check: Can Black Mold Be Removed

Memory Loss From Mold Exposure

You may not associate memory loss with mold exposure, but perhaps you should. When most people hear about health problems related to exposure to mold in the home, they think of things like respiratory problems, asthma and allergies. Those are common symptoms of mold-related illness, but exposure to mold can cause other problems, as well. You can read about some of the common mold-related health problems.

There have been only a few studies done on the subject of mold and memory to date, but the research does show that exposure to mold can have a negative effect on memory, particularly short-term memory. It may cause other neurological impairments, as well, including problems with concentration, judgment and executive functioning . Here were going to talk specifically about memory, but you can read more about the effect of mold on concentration.

Mold Does Affect Your Brain Causing Depression

Human Brain Plastic Mold or silicone mold Resin Mold brain

Mold Does Affect Your Brain Causing Depression!

According to Ackerley, the prevalence of mold induced depression could be quite high:

One fascinating thing Id like to point out: Dr. Shoemaker has often said that its about 25% of the population is susceptible to biotoxin-associated illness. When you add up whos been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness, it too adds up to about 25% of the population. Is that a coincidence? Perhaps. But its a very interesting coincidence to me.

With respect to the evidence linking the relationship between mold and depression, it is quite clear that mold does affect the brain and this is confirmed by scientific data, further strengthened by the anecdotal data offered by the Brown University study and the mold survivors who have come forward and documented their symptoms.

How prevalent is mold sickness? According to Dr. Scott McMahon, MD, who appeared in the MOLDY documentary:

Possibly every doctoris treating mold illness, and they just dont realize it.

If you suffer from depression, here are two questions that you need to ask:

  • How healthy is the air quality of my home?
  • Does my home have mold?
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    Scary Symptoms Of Mold Infections

    • Coordination problems

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    Safer and faster at removing VOCs than traditional carbon filters and PECO air purifiers

    EnviroKlenz® Medical Disclaimer:

    Any information that is provided on this website is not for the use by any commercial or personal entity without expressed written consent of the blog author. The material and statements illustrated within this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or medical conditions. Nor does the author in any way guarantee or validate the validity, totality, or efficacy of any claims and will therefore not be held responsible for the content of any claims. Always consult your medical physician for any specific medical advice or recommendations.

    Mold Survivors Explain Impact Of Mold On Their Brains

    On the surface, it would appear that the Brown study is anecdotal because it failed to take actual tests of the mold to verify the species and spore count. This is one of the biggest criticisms of the study. That being said, this study does show a link between the the homes environment and the mental health of the occupants.

    To further demonstrate the link between mold and depression, one can also look at actual testimonials of individuals that have suffered from mold illnesses. In 2015, Wonder Makers Environmental, a Michigan based environmental company, launched a website, www.moldsensitized.com, dedicated to educating restoration contractors, physicians, and patients about mold. One of the goals of the website was to interview toxic mold survivors and record their answers to a series of questions.

    One of the common themes in each interview was the sense of hopelessness and depression that they all felt because of the chronic exposure to the mold. Mold does affect ones brain and continued exposure to mold contributes to symptoms of depression. These are some of the symptoms reported by survivors, whose brains were impacted:

    My ears were ringing and it felt as if my head was about to explode.

    I had anxiety, brain fog, memory and cognition problems, difficult concentrating and speaking.

    I developed chronic headaches and migraines, fatigue, muscle weakness, dizziness, memory issues, and mood swings.

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    Keep Your Sinuses Clear

    The glymphatic system is also thought to play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Alzheimers Disease, Huntingtons Disease, and Dementia. A significant amount of research is underway at research universities and pharmaceutical companies.

    The Brain Cleanse Process

    What Actually Happens To Your Body When You Eat Mold?

    The brain, like the rest of our body, is resilient and has its own ability to heal and clear itself to dispose of toxins. Circulating inside the spinal canal and throughout the brain is cerebrospinal fluid . The key element is the fluid that circulates throughout the brain.

    The CSF highlighting the brains ventricular system.

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    Brown University Study On Mold And Depression

    Brown University Study on Mold and Depression!

    In 2007, researchers at Brown University released a study showing a link between mold and depression.

    The study, led by epidemiologist Edmond Shenassa, analyzed data from 5,882 adults in 2,982 households.

    The data was collected by the World Health Organization in 2002 and 2003. Interviewers visited 1000s of homes in eight European cities and asked residents a series of questions to assess symptoms of depression, including symptoms of low appetite, self-esteem, and sleep disturbances. They also tried to visually verify the presence of mold by looking at spots on the wall and ceilings.

    What they found was that symptoms of depression were up to 40% higher for residents living in visibly moldy households than for residents that did not have mold in their homes.

    Based on this survey, they concluded that there is a definite connection between damp, moldy homes and depression.

    The studies author, further concluded that:

    Physical health, and perceptions of control, are linked with an elevated risk for depression, and that makes sense. If you are sick from mold, and feel you cant get rid of it, it may affect your mental health. Healthy homes promote healthy lives.

    Despite the findings of this study, many in the scientific community consider this an anecdotal study because the researchers did not take actual air samples or swab samples of the suspected visual mold. Because of this, the conclusions of this study have been questioned.

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